Peace lilies are some of the most beautiful houseplants and known for having fantastic white blooms. So when those white flowers turn green it’s often surprising and disappointing.
Well firstly – don’t worry! It’s a mystery that can be solved fairly easily. You just have to identify the cause and then do the necessary work to help them recover.
So I’m going to take you through the 19 possible reasons your peace lily’s flowers are turning green and how to get them back to being white.
Understanding the Peace Lily Flower
Before we get into the causes it’s a good idea to know what you’re dealing with. The part of your peace lily you think of as the “flower” is actually the spathe.
The spathe has two purposes: attracting pollinators and protecting the flowers.
During its life cycle the spathe goes through a few stages:
- Green (emerging stage)
- Bright white (peak bloom)
- Green again (aging stage)
It’s this progression that explains how you get green flowers. But when you bring in external factors it becomes more tricky to figure out why.
So let’s go through them.
1. Natural Aging of the Flower
Peace lily flowers have a life cycle, as just mentioned. The spathe starts green, it turns white during its peak flowering stage and then goes back to being green as it matures and get ready to fade.
How to Handle It:
- Deadhead properly: When the flower starts to turn green it’s time to cut it off. Do so at the base of the stem.
- Don’t rush: Let the flower go through it’s natural cycle. If you cut it too early it can mess with the plants energy.
2. Low Light
Peace lilies can do ok in low light but do much better in bright, indirect light. If they don’t get enough light they will produce too much chlorophyll. This will cause the spathe to either stay green or turn back that way and then help with photosynthesizing.
How to Fix It:
- Put your peace lily somewhere that gets bright, filtered light. Look for somewhere as near to an east facing window.
- Don’t put it in direct sunlight as it can burn the leaves. But at the same time make sure it gets enough light to do well.
- If you can’t give it enough natural light then use a grow light for 6 to 8 hours a day.
3. Too Much Fertilizer
If you give your peace lily too much fertilizer it will make it produce a lot of chlorophyll which again turns the spathe green.
Signs of Over Fertilization:
- Green flowers
- Green or brown tips of the leaves
- Salt building up on the soil
Solution:
- Use a balanced houseplant fertilizer (10-10-10 or 20-20-20) and dilute it to half strength.
- In the spring and summer fertilize your peace lily only once a month and don’t feed it at all in the winter.
- Every few months it’s a good idea to flush the soil through with water as it will get rid of any build up of salts.
4. Humidity and Temperature
Peace lilies like humidity as they are naturally from tropical areas. If the temperature swings a lot or they’re in low humidity it can stress them and cause green flowers.
Ideal Conditions:
Humidity: 40 to 60%
Temperature: 65 to 80°F (18 to 27°C)
How to Fix It:
- Use a humidifier to improve the humidity. Misting your plant also works well. A pebble tray that you put your peace lily on can increase the humidity too.
- Don’t put your peace lily near things like air conditioners, heaters or places that get drafts.
5. Improper Watering
Underwatering or overwatering can both stress your peace lily. When it’s stressed it can’t grow the lovely white flowers you want.
Overwatering Symptoms:
- Yellow leaves
- Wilting even when the soil is wet
- A nasty small or obvious root rot
Underwatering Symptoms:
- Dry and crispy leaves
- Stems that droop but when watered recover fully
Solution:
- Water when the top of the soil is dry. Peace lilies like the soil to be moist but not soggy.
- Drainage is important so make sure your pot has enough holes to let the water flow out and not sit in it.
6. Light Exposure During Blooming
Peace lilies need stable levels of light. If you give them too much light when they’re flowering it can make the blooms age too early and this will result in them turning green.
Fix:
- Move your peace lily to somewhere with more shade if they’re getting harsh and direct light.
- Use a sheer curtain to filter any strong light.
7. Genetics and Plant Variety
Some varieties of peace lilies produce greener flowers naturally. This is simply down to their genetics.
Examples of Varieties:
| Variety | Bloom Color Traits |
|---|---|
| Spathiphyllum wallisii | Classic white blooms |
| Spathiphyllum ‘Sensation’ | Larger blooms with greenish tinges |
| Spathiphyllum ‘Domino’ | Variegated leaves, white blooms |
What You Can Do:
If you don’t want green flowers the pick a variety like Spathiphyllum wallisii as it’s known to have consistently white spathes.
8. Stress from Relocation
If you’ve recently moved your peace lily to somewhere new it can react negatively to the change in environment. And that stress can show up as green flowers.
Solution:
- Give it time to get used to it’s new spot. Be as consistent and stable as you can with its care – so water, light and temperature.
- Try not to move your peace lily too often as they do best when they’re stable.
9. Overcrowded Roots
Being root bound will stop your peace Lily from being able to absorb the water and nutrients it needs. This can affect its overall health and the color of its flowers.
Signs of a Root-Bound Plant:
- Roots that are circling the bottom of the pot
- Water that runs straight through the soil when you water it
- Poor growth
Fix:
- Repot your peace lily every 1 to 2 years. When you do move it do so into a pot that is about 1 to 2 inches bigger than it’s current one.
- Use potting soil that drains well.
10. Soil Problems
If the quality of the soil is poor or the nutrients aren’t balanced it can also lead to stress. This will affect both leaf and flower color.
Fix:
- Use a good potting mix that drains well. Something like a mix of compost and perlite or peat moss works very well.
- Repot your peace lily every couple of years as it will refresh the soil and stop the nutrients from getting low.
11. Dormancy Period
In the fall and winter peace lilies naturally go through a period of rest. In this time the blooms can fade or turn green as a way for it to conserve energy.
Solution:
- Don’t water and fertilize as much during the this period.
- When it’s resting movie it somewhere cooler and with less light for a few months. Then in the spring you can go back to normal care.
12. Air Quality
Things like cigarette smoke or pollution can make the air quality poor which will stress your peace lily.
Solution:
- Keep your peace lily somewhere that gets good ventilations.
- Don’t put it near fireplaces, stoves or where people smoke
13. Pests
Pests like spider mites, aphids or mealybugs can drain the energy of your plant and affect the color of its flowers.
Fix:
- Keep a close eye on the leaves and flowers for any signs of pests.
- Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to get rid of pests.
- Use filtered, distilled or rain water for watering.
- If you have to use tap water then let it sit overnight before doing so as it will let the chemicals to dissipate.
- Keep the temperature as stable and moderate as possible.
- Don’t put it somewhere near windows during any extreme heat or cold.
14. Water Quality
If your tap water has lots of chlorine or fluoride in it this can stress your peace lily and cause the flowers to become green.
Solution:
15. Seasonal Light Changes
Peace lilies don’t like the intensity and duration of light to change too much.
Fix:
When the light changes across the seasons you should move your peace lily to somewhere more suitable.
16. Temperature Extremes
Peace lilies don’t like the temperature to be below 60°F (15°C) or above 85°F (29°C). Extreme temperatures will stress the plant and make the flowers turn green.
Solution:
17. Chemical Exposure
Chemicals can have some serious side effects on your peace lily. Things like cleaning products, air fresheners or other household chemicals are all potentially damaging.
Fix:
Put your peace lily away from chemical use.
18. Plant Age
As peace lilies get older their natural cycle of blooming can mean it has fewer flowers and some that may be green.
Solution:
Divide the plant every few years as it will rejuvenate the growth and encourage it to bloom again.
19. Genetic Mutations
Occasionally peace lilies have genetic mutations that can make the flowers permanently green.
Solution:
Sadly you can’t reverse these mutations but your peace lily can still thrive and looks interesting and unique.
Final Thoughts
Understanding why your peace lily flowers turn green comes down to being aware of what it needs and how it behaves. That could be as simple as changing how you care for it or making some substantial adjustments.
Either way as long as you care for it well you should end up with the beautiful white flowers you are looking for.